4A Public Hearings 2016 1219 - Laserfiche WebLink

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File Number: 16-676 construct access gates for vehicles, bicyclists and pedestrians at the entrance of the development to control traffic into Heron Bay. The proposal was a major modification of the Planned Development (PLN2014-00007), reviewed by the Planning Commission and City Council. At the time, staff recommended against the project because it would establish an undesirable precedent in the City’s efforts to plan residential neighborhoods and that it countered the City’s General Plan policy discouraging the development of “gated” communities or the gating of already developed subdivisions. In addition, the proposal was found to impede or obstruct public access to and from the Bay Trail and the City’s shoreline area. On June 19, 2014, the Planning Commission heard and denied the original proposal to install an access gate, which was appealed to the City Council. The City Council later denied the appeal on September 2, 2014. The Planning Commission, City Council and staff all recommended the applicant incorporate other effective and less exclusive safety and security measures such as installation of security cameras, maintenance and improvement of outdoor lighting, continuing the Neighborhood Watch efforts, working with the City’s Police Department, and/or hiring private security to patrol the neighborhood. In March 2016, the Association submitted a proposal for an attended kiosk on the Heron Bay Park site facing the Lewelling Boulevard circle and Bayfront Drive entry; Anchorage Drive was proposed as an egress only. The Planning Commission heard the Heron Bay Homeowners Association proposal at its October 20, 2016 meeting. At that meeting, the Planning Commission reviewed the proposal, listened to public comments, and recommended a revised project for City Council consideration. The Planning Commission, in its motion, recommended approval of the kiosk, however the Commissioners recommended removal of the Applicant’s proposed Anchorage Drive reconfiguration to an egress-only gate arm and raised barrier. The majority of the Commissioners felt that the gate arm negatively impacted vehicular ingress/egress and was counter to the General Plan policy discouraging gated communities. The Planning Commission’s final vote was: 5-Ayes, 1-Nay, and 1- Absent. The Planning Commission audio for the October 20, 2016 meeting audio is available online at: <http://sanleandro.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=2&clip_id=857> The Planning Commission’s recommendation includes conditions of approval that protect the public’s right of access to the Bay Trail and Public Shoreline. The Planning Commission recommended that the attendant at the kiosk not stop pedestrian, bicycle or vehicular traffic, and that the kiosk include appropriate directional signage to identify the location of the Bay Trail, public shoreline access and/or parking. Following the Planning Commission’s recommendation, Mr. Jeff Tepper, on behalf of the Heron Bay Homeowners Association (HOA), and Mr. A. Alan Berger, attorney for the HOA, submitted letters accepting the Planning Commission’s recommendation to remove the gate and barrier from Anchorage Drive, but disagreed with the condition prohibiting the attendant from stopping passing traffic (attached). The letters requested that the City Council remove or modify the conditions of approval and allow the attendant to stop non-resident cars and to remove the requirement for the placement of directional signs identifying public access. Page 2 City of San Leandro Printed on 12/13/2016